Why You Need To Have Your Thyroid Problem Checked Out

Thyroid problems usually affect more women than men, and the most common of them relate to the amount of thyroxine that is produced in the body. The thyroid is a gland in the lower part of the neck, situated above the collar bone, responsible for regulating a person’s metabolism, which it does through the manufacture of a hormone called thyroxine. Too much thyroxine is referred to as hyperthyroidism, and too little is called hypothyroidism. It is important to get treatment as soon as symptoms are present, because if left untreated, thyroid problems can exacerbate into quite serious problems. Low cost medical clinics in Las Vegas offer cost-effective solutions that enable everyone to take full control over their health.

Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid condition and usually affects women over the age of 40. Between 6 and 10% of women over the age of 65 are likely to develop hypothyroidism. This occurs when the thyroid does not produce enough thyroxine for the body and causes the thyroid to be underactive. It manifests as tiredness, weight gain, sensitivity to cold temperatures, depression, dry skin and constipation.

Hyperthyroidism, which is when the thyroid produces too much thyroxine hormone, is caused most frequently by Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition. It is less common than hypothyroidismn and affects around 2% of women and 0.2% of men. It presents as unexplained weight loss, insomnia, diarrhea and sensitivity to hot temperatures.

Thyroid cancer is another ailment that can affect the thyroid, although it is less common. It can be treated successfully if it is detected early enough, but the thyroid usually needs to be removed for this to happen. People who have had their thyroid glands removed need to take synthetic thyroxine in order to regulate their metabolisms in its absence.

Congenital thyroid disease occurs when babies are born with defective thyroids. Sometimes this is a genetic problem, while on other occasions it can be caused by an insufficiency of iodine in the mother’s diet. When this happens synthetic thyroxine needs to be administered.

Goiters are a symptom of a problematic thyroid gland and present as swollen areas under the neck. They need to be medically assessed and tests need to be performed in order to find the cause. Goiters can be caused by Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis but blood tests will need to be done to confirm what has caused it.

Having a medical assessment at clinics in Las Vegas is essential to identify the cause of your thyroid problem and what the most suitable line of treatment is.